New limit regs/Boating etiquette

[Phil Lilley]

I have been known to ease up to the anchored boat and say, "excuse me, I need to get through and you're blocking the channel." They have moved every time... so far. But I do inform them when I do go by it's a violation to block a channel and they could get a ticket. That usually doesn't go over very well- but it's true. But again, patrol is on Taney a dozen times a year so they probably won't.

[Simsmarine]

You're idling up past Fall Creek...

waders are out as far as they can go...

boats are anchored right in the channel.

Where in the heck am I to head my boat?????

You say to yourself "doggonnit, I got here too late". And you turn around and fish elsewhere for a spell. A bit later the crowd will likely thin out and you'll be able to blow through without incident.

That's the way I handle situations like that, and it has never caused me any problems. You might locate a less pressured holding area.

[OnTheFly]

While I am not a big fan of tournament fishing for various reason that does not mean that it is wrong, I just don’t care for it. If you don’t like tournament trout fishing you have lot of options; don’t fish on those weekends they are having tournament, write your legislator, don’t support business that support tournament fishing etc.

As far as the boaters go there are more good ones than bad ones on Taney but the bad ones sure make if rough on the rest of us. I boat and wade and the unsafe boaters can sure make it tense at times. tippet7 Iknow the guide you are talking about and I don’t refer clients to him and I make sure people who mention the name know what kind of a sportsman he is too. The guide in question should take a second and reflect on what he is doing….Most of us the visit Taney are there for recreation and guides are there trying to make a living…doesn’t seem very wise to piss off potential clients or people who might make referrals.

FYI, when I am wading I prefer boats to go by nice and slow and not on plane. I prefer a little wake or being puckered for a few seconds….besides the fish don’t care one way or another.

[knuck]

This discussion is exactly what I was hoping for. A bit of back and forth between regulars at Taney and fisherman who may only get to this this fantastic tailwater once or twice a year. This fishery pits anglers and boaters against each other like no other place I have fished. Except maybe for our trout laden float streams,which then puts me on the other side of the argument, howling about jet propelled boats flying up a stream that might be 30 yards wide at best. My typical course of action is running full tilt when there are no other boaters or waders present and then attempting to slow to a reasonable speed when others are approached, mostly out of respect. However, when making a run to the dam in anything bigger than a 18 foot boat when they are running only 1 or 2 turbines it is probably going to be a bit unpleasant for waders no matter how a boater operates.If I can,t fish a decent portion of my trip from the cable to lookout hole it is a dissapointing trip indeed. There is nothing worse than waking up to calm water and high skies!!!!!!!!

[Wayne SW/MO]

There are two different situations emerging here. Anchored boats are a different animal then waders in the Trophy area. While there are situations that don't allow you to stay on plane and, because of proximity, you have to slow down. If you're on the upper end on a busy weekend you'll have to bring your lunch to reach the upper end if you slow for every boat anchored or drifting.

Waders are different, not because they are special, but because they are fishing at the destination and boats coming up won't lose any significant time by slowing for them. An "idle" zone wouldn't do any harm there. Several years ago I was fishing beside the ramp in the trophy area and a guy in a bass boat would come well inside my casting range, probably within 25', of me every time he returned from a drift. I had a problem understanding why until I realized he was drifting the other side, so he wanted to mess up my fishing, not hurt his, not that it would have.

[Murdoc]

What if we limit the times that boats can run to the dam or maybe where boats can run. How about limiting the boat traffic by how many units are running? I don't fish very much when there are several units running so why should the boats not be able to take avantage of it. There are so many things that could be done but the biggest thing is that we can not and will not please everyone.

[Wayne SW/MO]

They are already limited, but its simply not that far from say KOA to the dam. I may be overlooking something but slow from KOA to the dam can't be all bad because a lot of guides, and individuals, already practice it.

[moose50]

generally i stay planed out unless it starts getting tight. its kinda a catch 22 when heading upstream when they are generating power. slow down and create waves you could surf on or fly through the area. always safety first though.

[Phil Lilley]

Good discussion- and I appreciate the respect you all have for one another.

Catch 22 is right- there's no way to govern proper ways to boat in all scenarios besides what's already on the books- and they aren't being enforced now.

If this guide is causing this much trouble, call the Branson Police at 334-3300 and ask how you can get in contact with a local patrolman. Give them the name (if you know it), his boat description and registration # (if you have it) and they will follow up on it.

[moose50]

i heard that B.P.S. is goin to have a boat test facility on the taney lakefront. if so what do you think this will do to lake traffic. it doesnt sound like a good idea to me, the lake isnt that big as it is